We all watched with horror the utter destruction that recent tornadoes caused in the nation’s heartland. And we know that for dialysis patients, their losses are compounded as the storms disrupted not only their lives but also their life-saving dialysis treatments.
As a result, we activated our Disaster Relief Program to provide assistance to patients in the areas affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes. Our Disaster Relief Program helps dialysis patients by providing grants to help with emergency expenses—things like food, shelter, medications and transportation to reach their treatments. This program is just one of the ways we provide direct financial assistance to dialysis patients in need, and we are grateful to the corporations and individuals who generously contribute so that we may help patients.
We are also working to reach people who are at risk for kidney disease with information about its prevention. Just this past weekend we held Kidney Action Day in metro Washington, D.C., and this coming weekend we’ll be in Augusta, Ga.—two communities where the rates of kidney disease are above the national average. Our metro D.C. event also included our Kidney Action Day Walk, which helps raise awareness of kidney disease and raises funds to support the work of the American Kidney Fund. We are so grateful for the enthusiasm and partnership of our sponsors, walk teams, volunteers, performers, speakers and all who participated. Together, we can make a difference.
Our kidneys are some of the hardest-working organs in our bodies! Their main job—filtering waste and extra fluids from our blood—is just one of the many ways our kidneys help keep us in good health. Raise your kidney IQ by reading more.
AKF Paired Up with the Chicago Department of Public Health for Kidney Action Day in the Windy City on May 11 at Millennium Park. Local officials were on hand, along with U.S. Rep. Danny Davis. Thanks to sponsors American Renal Associates, U.S. Renal Care, Inc. and Genentech. Watch a slide show of the event.
Kidney transplant recipients have to take anti-rejection medications to prevent their bodies from rejecting the organ. Medicare covers these drugs for only 36 months for non-disabled kidney transplant patients under 65. Join us in urging your elected representatives to extend lifetime Medicare coverage of these drugs to all kidney transplant patients.
Each year the American Kidney Fund honors people who inspire us in the fight against kidney disease. Do you know a dialysis or transplant patient with an inspirational story? Nominate him or her for our 2013 Hero of Hope award, which we’ll present at our gala, The Hope Affair, on Oct. 29 in Washington, D.C.
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBC), the nation’s oldest and largest African American religious convention with an estimated membership of 7.5 million, has been an AKF partner for several years. NBC’s Health Outreach and Prevention Education Initiative (H.O.P.E.) uses AKF’s resources to promote the importance of kidney health to all its members. This month, AKF screened NBC members for kidney disease and associated risk factors at their annual Congress of Christian Education in St. Louis.
We are asking friends of the American Kidney Fund to help us improve our website by taking a brief, anonymous survey. Please take a few moments to tell us what you like and what you think we can improve, so that our website can continue being a valuable source of information in the fight against kidney disease.
Upcoming Kidney Health Screenings
June 29, 2013 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Kidney Action Day - Augusta The Salvation Army Kroc Center 1833 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30904
